Basketball

NBBF Crisis: Stakeholders Set To Take Legal Action Against FIBA Africa

Published

7 years ago

July 11, 2019

NBBF Crisis: Stakeholders Set To Take Legal Action Against FIBA Africa

Joel Ajayi

Stakeholders of the Nigeria Basketball federation NBBF has resolved to take legal action against FIBA AFRICA if it failed to resolve the crisis of the federation as they promised

It will be recalled that two years ago, the FIBA Africa fact finding delegations had declared Kano election that produced Tijani Umar led and the Abuja election that produced Engr. Musa Kida led board a came short of the FIBA statues thereby declared the two election nulled and viod.

And FIBA had promised to conduct new election that will ursher in authentic leader of the federation but since then FIBA had soiled their hands by recognizing Kida led board with the support of the then minister of sports Bar. Solomon Dalung and Nigeria Olympic Committee at detriment of Tijani Umar led faction which is against their promise.

Based on this, the Tijani Umar led group during a stakeholders meeting held in Abuja, have agreed to use legal action against FIBA for taken side on the Crisis.

Tijani revealed that no NBBF board is recorgnize following the directive from FIBA.

According to him, in a very sad way, FIBA is gradually becoming part of the problem.

“I don’t want to blame FIBA per say, I want to blame the African office of FIBA for compromising.

“Two years ago FIBA came and said they want to resolve the crisis.

I am so sad that in Africa we have all these shortcomings and we have people who should not speak on our behalf sometimes they on behinds dealing and it’s sad.

“FIBA has box itself into a moral dilemma they made decision that election in Kano came short of the FIBA statues and Abuja election came short also and they said as a result of that executive of FIBA declare the two elections void and they gave time table they even accepted our own constitution.

But with support of ministry, NOC and assistance of FIBA Africa, and they stop the plan new election.

As a legitimate Stakeholders we are going to ask question, we have given them enough time and we yet to hear anything from them its two years now since the election and FIBA must come and purge itself of this moral Delimma its very important otherwise it have intensity to scandalized FIBA that why stakholders have decided to approach the court for justice.

I think FIBA Africa is going to place in bad light, its not good for us but what ever it take us in doing the right thing we are not going to toil away with it we need to take basket ball to the part of development.” He vowed.

He added that: “We are bringing value to basketball. We actually at this time do not need basketball but someone has to be foot soldier to stand up and do the right thing.

“The stakeholders will not give up, they will not get tired. They will continue to do the right thing. The players are losing their income, they are suffering and disorganized. The local leagues are very dear to our heart. We are not pretending. They are suffering.

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Basketball

Respect NBBF Constitution, Install New Board to Revive Basketball — Stakeholders

Published

3 months ago

February 24, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Fresh concerns have emerged over alleged procedural breaches in the leadership of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), as seven members of the outgoing board insist that constitutional processes must be strictly followed to grow thw game and prevent a deepening crisis in Nigerian basketball.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the board members declared that the tenure of the current board officially expired on January 31, 2026, and maintained that no member approved any extension beyond that date.

They called for the immediate activation of constitutional provisions to convene an elective congress that will usher in a new and inclusive board.

The stakeholders in attendance included International Representative Col. Sam Ahmadu (Rtd); Prof. Florence Adeyanju (NAWIS representative); Olumide Bamiduro (representing NAPHERD SD, replacing Yakashai who resigned to join the Boxing Federation); North-East Representative Adamu Deshi; Technical Representative Scot Nnaji; South-West Representative Olumide Oyedeji; and Suraj Yusuf representing the North-West.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Col. Ahmadu said the briefing was necessary to address what he described as widespread misinformation surrounding the federation’s leadership status.

“We decided to hold this press briefing because there is so much information out there — some factual and some concocted,” he said. “This is not a campaign for anyone but an effort by members of the outgoing board to set the record straight.”

He explained that the NBBF constitution clearly provides that a board’s tenure begins immediately after members are sworn in following an elective congress. Since the last election was conducted on January 31, 2022, in Edo State, he argued that the four-year tenure ended on January 31, 2026.

According to him, there is no constitutional requirement for any additional inauguration by a supervising authority to validate the commencement of tenure.

“Inauguration does not override the Constitution as the determinant of tenure commencement,” Ahmadu stated.

He further disclosed that the minutes and communiqué of the 2022 elective congress were duly transmitted to FIBA and the Federal Ministry of Sports, describing the records as incontrovertible.
Beyond the tenure issue, the stakeholders raised serious governance concerns.

Col Ahmadu alleged that since 2022, Congress — recognised by the constitution as the supreme authority of the federation — has not been convened as required.

He stated that Congress is mandated to meet at least once annually, yet no such meetings have taken place within that period. He added that the last board meeting was held in 2024.

The group also pointed to what they described as administrative lapses, including the alleged absence of an official federation bank account and claims of conflict of interest linked to a kit sponsorship arrangement involving the former president and the head of the marketing committee.
Additionally, they alleged that two board members — Technical Representative Scot Nnaji and Players’ Representative Stanley Gumut — were removed from the board under questionable circumstances.

They further questioned the increasing reliance on the Emergency Committee, stressing that the constitution does not empower it to replace the Board.
According to them, any decisions taken by the Emergency Committee must be ratified by the full Board which, they claim, has not met in over a year.

The stakeholders insisted that strict obedience to the NBBF statutes and the immediate constitution of a new board would “wipe the tears of basketball” and restore confidence among players, officials, sponsors, and stakeholders.

They urged relevant authorities to act swiftly to convene an elective congress and ensure a transparent process open to all qualified aspirants, warning that failure to follow constitutional procedures could further destabilise the sport.

However, the unfolding situation reflects mounting pressure within the basketball community for reforms anchored on transparency, inclusiveness, and strict respect for constitutional order to safeguard the future of Nigerian basketball

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